By Riak Chol

The Jonglei State Police Commissioner on Thursday made a direct appeal to parents across the state to take more active role in guiding their children and preventing them from engaging in criminal activities. 

The commissioner cited a concerning rise in crimes committed by young people, including theft, drug use, and involvement in inter-communal conflicts. 

He said the rate of crimes have surged in the last few months of the year 2024, and that in the last 10 days of December 2024, more than 30 gang members were arrested in a police operation team during the patrol.

Major Gen. John Bak said a strong family foundation and parental guidance are crucial in shaping responsible and law-abiding citizens

 “We are appealing to the community that when there is a group of criminals in their residential area, they have to report to police to enable police to rush to the scene of the crime and arrest them,” Gen. Bak said.

The commissioner urged parents to be vigilant to know their children’s whereabouts and activities, and to instil in them strong moral values.

“The parents should advise their children to distance themselves from such crimes because they have a future ahead of them. If they go back to schools, they will be our leaders later on. So, there is need for parents to educate their children to be good people.” 

Bak believes that a collaborative approach between law enforcement and families is essential to creating a safer environment for all citizens of Jonglei State.

Following the eruption of conflict in South Sudan in 2013, Jonglei State has witnessed myriad challenges. These include disastrous flooding in the past four years, and a series of intra- and inter-communal and political conflicts.

While communities in and around the state capital Bor appear to live peacefully among themselves, tensions are simmering in rural areas over land use, competition over high grounds for grazing due to flooding, and contested claims over fishing rights.

To avert conflicts, authorities have called for concerted efforts from parents and authorities to make the  region safer.